sailing > rules
Rules of Racing
A summary of changes in the 2005 - 2008 rulebook.
Not all possible changes are listed below, these are only the more significant changes due to the current rules of racing.
Previously, once a boat had finished, that was that. Now a boat could finish, realise she had not sailed the course correctly, return
to the course to correct her error, then finish again. Its second
finish would be her official finish.
If the black flag is being used at the start, and there is an offender, and the race needs to be re-started, then the offender’s number must be displayed before the next warning signal.
The shortened course signal can mean;
a: if nearby to a rounding mark - finish between the nearby mark
and this flagstaff (as it did before) or,
b: if nearby to a line that must be crossed at the end of a lap -
finish through that line, or,
c: if nearby to a gate - finish between the gate marks.
If the direction of the next leg is to be changed, together with flag
S there must be either;
a: the new compass bearing (as it did before) or,
b: a green triangular flag or board for a change to starboard, or,
c: a red square flag or board for a change to port.
After a change or course signal, other legs may be changed to maintain the course shape without further signalling.
A boat calling for room to tack at an obstruction can be protested unless safety requires a substantial course alteration.
A boat may not make a course alteration if the only purpose is to interfere with a boat which is on another leg.
Trapeze and hiking harnesses must have a ‘quick release’ device (from 1st January 2006).
A boat may not be steered in such a way that would deliberately cause repeated rolling.
Repeated forceful sculling is not permitted.
There is no longer a ‘720 turn’ penalty. It is now ‘two turns’ still requiring two tacks and two gybes but this could be a bit less than 720 degrees.